Arizona Roots 2020 Brought The Reggae Home!
Those Vibes Didn’t Disappoint!
The 2nd installment of The Arizona Roots Festival took place on February 22nd and 23rd at the Rawhide Event Center in Chandler, AZ. At most Rawhide events, the main stages are set up near the huge warehouse on the property. To my surprise, Arizona Roots went a different direction and set up in the old western town itself! For me, this brought a much more relaxed environment with a more ‘western’ feel, which I really enjoyed. At the far end of the event grounds, there was also a beautiful little pond next to the main stage. This show started earlier in the day than most, so there was lots of warm sunshine to enjoy while walking around or dancing to some tunes.
I spent a lot of time checking out the vendors and things they had to offer. One of my favorites was the Island Noodles, I fell in love with them at Electric Forest and was absolutely delighted to find them in my home town! The Folks at Raw were also there handing out pocket ashtrays to help keep the grounds clean. One booth I really liked was one with synthetic dread-locks of every color, they’d even put them in for you! I saw clothing vendors, art vendors and a great coffee vendor that really helped as the temperatures dropped at night. Despite a little rain on the first day, happy vibes were everywhere, with perfect sunsets and music that definitely hit the spot.
Incredible Reggae Artists!
The line-up this year was unforgettable! With two main stages, there was music playing all around us. On Saturday things kicked off with Dubbest at the AZ Roots stage with Kush County following behind on the Rawhide stage. Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad followed next with Synergy, Satsang and Vana Liya filling he day. Passafire closed out the Rawhide stage while Collie Buddz and Steel Pulse played next on the AZ roots stage. To close out the night, Jamaican deejay, rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley brought us an incredible set!
On Sunday, 4th & Orange started off the night on the AZ Roots stage, followed by Zeeceekeely and The Expanders. Clint Stevens was the second act on the Rawhide stage, with Iya Terra, Hirie and Fayuca playing the rest of the day. Artikal Sound System was the last set on the Rawhide stage and The Expendables brought in a beautiful sunset over at The AZ Roots stage. The second to last act was San Diego based Reggae band, Tribal Seeds, which shared an incredible show with us. To close out the evening, Isla Vista, California based Reggae rock band Rebelution brought an absolutely perfect set. Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better line-up, these bands brought a vibe that I’ll never forget.
See You Next Year!
Arizona Roots 2020 was an absolutely incredible show. Made perfect with those sweet Reggae Vibes, the wonderful guests and the beautiful atmosphere. If you missed it, be sure to check out California Roots, which is the parent show from the same producers. Mark you calendars, get ready, and keep an eye on the AZ Roots Festival website for more information. Hope to see you next year!
Photo Credit: Chris Armer and Daniel Czuchra
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